Three Incredible Women of Faith from the Persecuted Church
In Iraq: Alia
Wife and mother of three remains steadfast in sharing her faith despite the threat of losing her life
Alia comes from a well to-do family near Baghdad, but her current humble dwellings in a UN-protected nofly zone in northern Iraq are far from the life she envisioned before she became a believer. Ali has had the option to move to the States to live safely and continue to share her faith. She and her husband, despite death threats, have chosen to remain in the camp where they rent a one bedroom apartment without electricity that they share with their three children. Here they are able to share the good news of Jesus predominantly with Muslim Kurds.
Alia opens up their home to teach English as a second language. She also seeks to minister to Christian wives, who often face much abuse at the hands of their husbands. This persistence does not come easy. She has often reevaluated her ministry work in Iraq as her family has faced much hardship. It's not living in their cramped apartment that makes Alia take a hard look at her situation, but the way that her children have suffered much harassment and even physical abuse at school. Although, the family has had to go into seclusion at various times, Alia fights to remain strong in her own faith and desire to share the Truth she has found in Christ.
In China: Han
Wife and mother of two seeks Christ's comfort as she struggles with feelings of abandonment in raising her children alone with her husband's arrests and imprisonments
With the random arrests of her husband, Han faces much restlessness and anxiety. Her husband preaches and distributes Bibles to varying regions around China where the ultimate punishment could mean death. When her husband is in prison, these times place Han in an uncomfortable social situation as her neighbors look down on her and her children for having a husband and father in prison - never mind the burdens of day to day living she must face alone. And so Han struggles to get support from her community when she needs it most and feels she must hide her tears from her children. Through time, the church is learning to support Han and her family during these hard times. Han has relied on her faith to help her fight for her marriage in these lonely and trying circumstances.
In Peru: Chely
Wife and mother has sacrificed her health in supporting her husband in prison for his faith
Chely's husband was falsely accused of the very crime he had dedicated his life to solving. Her husband was successful in battling drug trafficking and was instrumental in putting a number of criminals behind bars; but he had also experienced the power of God's Word in his life and therefore became involved in a Bible distribution project for Peru's military troops. His faith led the military to falsely accuse him of aiding drug smuggling. Even though he was strong in his faith, the prison conditions Chely's husband faces were inhuman and have tested his spirit. His life was in danger since he was confined with some of the same convicts he had helped apprehend.
Through the years, Chely has been faithful in visiting her husband despite the humiliating security searches required. With the help of international advocacy and legal aid in part from Open Doors International's involvement, her husband's prison conditions improved and eventually he was released from his unfair sentence. After her husband returned home, Chely began to experience some physical problems, which she attributes to having suppressed any signs of weakness for so many years. She and her husband have been encouraged throughout the years from the prayer and letters from Christians around the world concerned for their well being. They have learned and continue to learn to humbly ask other believers for the help they need.
